1. Breast Stroke

If your goal is to just keep yourself from sinking then the breast stroke is sufficient enough.

Advantage:
It is one of the swimming strokes that can get your head above the water for a long time.
Disadvantage:
It doesn’t provide you with speed. It is one of the slowest swimming strokes that you can learn.

How is it done:
The breast stroke starts by leaning your arms on the chest. The next step is to open your arms to break the water while pulling your head up. It is followed through by a kick. The kick is similar to a frog kick. It resembles the frog’s motion in swimming. By the time your head is back in the water, bring your arms to the initial position.

2. Freestyle

Most intermediate swimmers prefer to learn freestyle. It is one of the most popular strokes among the different swimming strokes.

Advantage:
Freestyle is the fastest way stroke you can use to travel from point A to point B. Due to the body’s position; it is the most efficient way to decrease water resistance.
Disadvantage:
It is more difficult to breathe in freestyle. The body is positioned in a way that it needs to turn from the side rather than the front. Timing is a crucial factor in breathing.

How is it done:
The swimmer uses an alternate motion of the arms. Your arms should rotate in a windmill like fashion while kicking your legs all throughout the time. As your arms hit the water, your body should rotate to the side allowing you to get air.

3. Backstroke

It is also one of the most basic swimming strokes taught early on the swimming classes. It has the same degree of difficulty with freestyle. Compared to the butterfly stroke, it is much easier to learn.

Advantage:
The position of your face outside the water makes breathing a lot easier. It is not coordinated with the movement of your arms or legs. Using the back stroke, you can swim more because there is a lesser effort to breathe.
Disadvantage:
In terms of speed, it is still slower compared to butterfly and freestyle. Another concern is that you don’t have a clear visual as to where you are heading. Beginners may find it disorienting.

How it is done:
First, lie on your back. Your arms and legs would propel you in the water. In order to perform a flutter kick, you need to kick your feet in an alternate motion. Once one of your foot kicks up, lower your other foot. At the same time you are making your flutter kick, your arms should alternately rotate on the side.